Tougher penalties kick in for PMD users caught riding on roads

Tougher penalties kick in for PMD users caught riding on roads came into effect on Monday (15 January), as the Land Transport Authority (LTA) strengthens regulations and enhances its penalty regime to deter errant use of PMDs.

In its statement earlier, LTA said that it is an offence under the Road Traffic Act to ride PMDs on roads, including expressways.

“PMD users who do so, pose a significant danger to themselves and other road users. To deter errant users, the penalties will be tiered to impose tougher penalties for more egregious cases,” it said.

Under the new penalty regime, the current composition sum of $100 has been increased to $300 and $500 for first-time offenders who ride on local and major roads respectively. LTA stressed that first-time offenders who ride on the expressways will be charged in court.

As per current practice, PMDs will be impounded in the course of investigations.

Source: LTA.

In the event of a conviction in Court, offenders convicted for the first time face a fine of up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 3 months, while offenders convicted for the second or subsequent time face a fine of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months.

LTA said that it has also been engaging representatives from PMD interest groups to raise awareness of the risks and dangers of using their PMDs on roads. With the increasing popularity of food delivery services, we have also been working with such companies to educate their PMD delivery crew on safe riding tips and rules, such as not riding on the roads.

Source: LTA.

LTA will also be rolling out a Safe Riding Programme to encourage greater awareness of safe riding which will come into effect on 1 February at places such as schools, community clubs and foreign worker dormitories.

The 90-minute voluntary programme is slated to be conducted on a training circuit, which will include both theory and practical components that will help participants better understand how to ride safely.

The programme will be mandatory for reckless riders once the Active Mobility Act comes into place, which is expected to happen later this year.

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